Malta

The story behind the answer

Valletta is the capital of Malta. Founded in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John and named after Grand Master Jean de Valette, it was designed as a fortified, grid-planned city after the Great Siege of 1565. Today it hosts Malta’s government and is famed for Baroque architecture like St. John’s Co-Cathedral. It’s also one of Europe’s smallest national capitals by area, perched between the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour.

To avoid confusion: Mdina is the “Silent City” and former capital, Sliema is a popular coastal town, and Gozo is Malta’s second island, not a city. Memory tip: “V for Valletta, V for Valette, V for Victory after the siege”—the capital born from victory and named for Valette.